While the beaches, tulips, and downtown helped propel Holland onto the prettiest towns list, the year-round events that happen in the city, like the muster, help make Holland a complete destination spot.

While we have covered how easy it is to take in the Dutch heritage in Holland, The Civil War Muster and Heritage Days will entrench you into our nation and our state's history.

The muster will take place at VanRaalte Farm Park—a historic, 160-acre park that was farmland around the Civil War era and later bought by the city of Holland in 1983; making it the perfect location. Eleven acres of the farm, which includes the original farm house and two barns, are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

This year, the muster will be a reenactment of the Battle of Antietam, which was fought on Sept. 17, 1862—a draw but was declared a victory by both the union and confederate sides.

The muster will not only feature the reenactment, but two days worth of impressions of historical figures, performances, medical scenarios, and period-style vendors.

It all starts on Saturday at 9 a.m. when the camp opens to the public. By 10 a.m., military drills will start, along with President Lincoln impressions, a medical scenario, a fashion show, a dance, and a nighttime fire to cap it all off at 9 p.m. All day long, various events will take place to set the mood for the reenactment that goes down on Sunday.

Camp opens back up on Sunday at 9 a.m. with a period church service, kid's drills, and more impressions. At 2 p.m. the cannons will fire and the battle will begin. Everything will wrap up by 4 p.m.

To coincide with the muster, DeGraaf Nature Center—part of VanRaalte Farm Park—will be celebrating Michigan's heritage through Heritage Days. There will be demonstrations, hands-on activities, games, and more.

All together the muster makes for a perfect family outing. Admission is free and it makes learning fun and hands-on. Between the demonstrations and the actual reenactment, kids will go wild over the scenes.

Before or after the muster you can always take a walk along the beaches or downtown to take in one of the prettiest towns in the country—further adding to your historical Holland experience.